Final plea in Costa Concordia trial

Lawyers for the captain of the capsized Costa Concordia have made a last-ditch appeal, asking the court trying him for the 2012 shipwreck to consider errors of other crew, not just his conduct.

The court in Grosseto, Italy, will soon deliberate the fate of Francesco Schettino, charged with manslaughter in the deaths of 32 people, abandoning ship before all of the 4,200 passengers and crew were evacuated and causing the shipwreck.

The Concordia smashed into a reef when sailing too close to Giglio Island.

Lawyer Donato Laino says prosecutors built their case “around one person, not the facts”. Mr Schettino says he is a scapegoat.

Five Costa Crociere SpA employees, including four crew members, were permitted plea bargains. None went to prison.